NDLEA gets court’s nod to detain suspected drugs dealer
A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to remand a suspected hard drug dealer, Onuegbu Ozoemena Stanley, who had been declared wanted by Interpol, since 2017, till January 21, 2020. Justice Hassan Sule, who presided over the court, gave the order while granting an ex parte application […]
A Federal High Court in Lagos yesterday ordered the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) to remand a suspected hard drug dealer, Onuegbu Ozoemena Stanley, who had been declared wanted by Interpol, since 2017, till January 21, 2020.
Justice Hassan Sule, who presided over the court, gave the order while granting an ex parte application filed and argued by the NDLEA lawyer, Mr Fingere Dinneys.
The NDLEA lawyer, Dinneys told the court that the remand order sought for was pursuant to section 35 (1)(C), 6 (6)(b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as Amended, and Section 41 (b)(iii) of the NDLEA Act Cap. N30 laws of the federation of Nigeria 2004 and other relevant provisions.
He also told the court that the suspected drugs dealer arrested on December 27, 2019, was needed upon reasonable suspicion of committing an offence under the provision of the NDLEA Act.
Dinneys particularly told the court that the order sought for was for further investigation of the arrested drugs suspect, whose co-conspirator, one Onwuabor Chukwuemeka Emmanuel, was arrested on July 8, 2015, in Hong Kong with 1.52 kilogrammes of cocaine.
He added that Onwuabor, upon his arrest, named the arrested drugs dealer as his sponsor and owner of the cocaine package.
He also told the court that upon the revelation made by Onwuabor, the name of the arrested drugs dealer was sent to Interpol as a fugitive, and the name was on February 23, 2017 placed on a watch-list by the Interpol as a wanted person.
He added that the suspected drugs dealer, who had been at large since 2017, was arrested on December 27, 2019, at the Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja, Lagos, on his arrival from Hong Kong.
Dinneys also told the court that the request to remand the suspect was to enable the NDLEA and Interpol conclude investigation into his drug activities, which the prosecutor said had already commenced and a lot of hidden issues were being unravelled.
He, therefore, urged the court to grant the application, as the suspect would not be prejudiced.
In granting the ex parte application, Justice Hassan held, “I have carefully examined the applicant’s ex parte application, as well as affidavit in support, the exhibits attached and written address. I have also listened carefully to the submission of the applicant’s counsel.
“The application is hereby granted and the matter is adjourned till January 21, 2020 for report of investigation.”